Sidney Poitier - Actor Profile

Sidney Poitier

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Feb 20, 1927
Birth Place: Miami, Florida, USA

About Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier KBE (February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian and American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he became the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for Lilies of the Field. Other accolades include two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a competitive British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA), and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. Major films featuring Poitier in a starring role include Blackboard Jungle (1955), The Defiant Ones (1958), To Sir, with Love (1967), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Sneakers (1992), and The Jackal (1997). Later in his career, he turned to directing with features such as Buck and the Preacher (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Stir Crazy (1980), and Ghost Dad (1990). At the time of his death, Poitier was one of the last major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Sidney Poitier reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Sidney Poitier's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 78% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Sidney Poitier remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Quincy Jones: In the Pocket, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Sidney Poitier Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Sidney Poitier's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Sidney Poitier.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2023 Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2022 Sidney Self Super Hit Similar →
2018 Mr. SOUL! Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2013 Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley Self Hit Similar →
2013 Martin Luther King and the March on Washington Self Super Hit Similar →
2012 Sing Your Song Self Hit Similar →
2007 Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project Self Hit Similar →
2001 Quincy Jones: In the Pocket Self Super Hit Similar →
2001 The Last Brickmaker in America Henry Cobb Super Hit Similar →
1999 Free of Eden Will Cleamons Super Hit Similar →
1998 Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist Reverend Msimangu (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1997 The Jackal Carter Preston Average Similar →
1997 Mandela and de Klerk Nelson Mandela Hit Similar →
1996 To Sir, with Love II Mark Thackeray Average Similar →
1995 Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick Self Super Hit Similar →
1992 Sneakers Crease Hit Similar →
1991 Separate But Equal Thurgood Marshall Hit Similar →
1988 Shoot to Kill Warren Stantin Hit Similar →
1988 Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night Self - Audience Member Super Hit Similar →
1986 The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn Self Super Hit Similar →
1985 Night of 100 Stars II Self Super Hit Similar →
1979 Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
1975 Let's Do It Again Clyde Williams Hit Similar →
1975 The Wilby Conspiracy Shack Twala Average Similar →
1973 A Warm December Dr. Matt Younger Average Similar →
1972 Nationtime Self - Narrator Super Hit Similar →
1972 Buck and the Preacher Buck Average Similar →
1971 The Organization Virgil Tibbs Average Similar →
1971 Brother John John Kane Average Similar →
1970 King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner John Prentice Super Hit Similar →
1967 In the Heat of the Night Virgil Tibbs Super Hit Similar →
1967 To Sir, with Love Mark Thackeray Super Hit Similar →
1966 Duel at Diablo Toller Average Similar →
1965 The Slender Thread Alan Newell Hit Similar →
1965 A Patch of Blue Gordon Ralfe Super Hit Similar →
1965 The Bedford Incident Ben Munceford Hit Similar →
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told Simon of Cyrene Average Similar →
1965 A Cinderella Named Elizabeth Self Hit Similar →
1963 Lilies of the Field Homer Smith Hit Similar →
1962 Pressure Point Doctor Hit Similar →
1961 Paris Blues Eddie Cook Hit Similar →
1961 A Raisin in the Sun Walter Lee Younger Super Hit Similar →
1960 All the Young Men Sgt. Eddie Towler Average Similar →
1958 The Defiant Ones Noah Cullen Hit Similar →
1957 Band of Angels Rau-Ru Average Similar →
1957 Edge of the City Tommy Tyler Hit Similar →
1956 Good-bye, My Lady Gates Watson Super Hit Similar →
1955 Blackboard Jungle Gregory W. Miller Hit Similar →
1950 No Way Out Luther Brooks Hit Similar →

Sidney Poitier - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Sidney Poitier?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Sidney Poitier is "Quincy Jones: In the Pocket" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Sidney Poitier acted in?

Sidney Poitier has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Sidney Poitier?

Other notable films include "Martin Luther King and the March on Washington", "Free of Eden", and "Night of 100 Stars II".